Trace increasing mechanism for elliptical exerciser

ABSTRACT

An elliptical exerciser includes two swing arms pivotably connected to a mediate portion of a post on the base and two slidable link units are pivotably connected to two respective lower ends of the two swing arms. Each slidable link unit has a first link and a second link wherein two connection parts respectively extend from two ends of the first link at an angle. The first end of the first link is pivotably connected to the wheel. Two ends of the second link are pivotably connected to the two connection parts by two connection members which allow the second links to be pivotable relative to the two connection parts. The two second links have two pedals connected thereto so that the pedals can travel a further distance relative to the first links so as to increase the distance of the ling axis of the oval trace.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trace increasing mechanism for anelliptical exerciser so as to increase the length of the long axis ofthe oval trace of the elliptical exerciser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional elliptical exerciser generally includes a base with awheel connected on one end thereof and a handle unit connected on theother end of the base. Two slidable links are respectively connectedbetween the handle unit and the wheel. The slidable links are connectedto the wheel at a distance from a center of the wheel and two pedals areinstalled on the slidable links so that when the user swings the twopedals alternatively, the pedals move along two respective oval trances.The wheel provides proper resistance so as to exercise the user'smuscles. However, it is noted that the long axis of the oval trace isfixed because of the fixed distance between the wheel and the handle,and the length of the long axis cannot meet the requirements of someusers who want to have a longer travel distance when using theelliptical exerciser.

The present invention intends to provide a trace increasing mechanismfor an elliptical exerciser wherein the mechanism includes two links andone of the links is pivoted a further distance relative to the otherlink so as to allow the pedals to move a longer distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an elliptical exerciser which comprisesa base having a post on a first end thereof and a wheel connected to asecond end of the base. Two swing arms are pivotably connected to amediate portion of the post and two slidable link units are pivotablyconnected to two respective lower ends of the two swing arms. Eachslidable link unit includes a first link and a second link. Twoconnection parts respectively extend from a first end and a second endof the first link at an angle. The first end of the first link ispivotably connected to the wheel. A first connection member is pivotablyconnected between the first connection part and a first end of thesecond link, and a second connection member is pivotably connectedbetween the second connection part and a second end of the second link.The two lower ends of the swing arms are connected to the two respectivesecond connection member. Each of the second links is parallel to thefirst link corresponding thereto and pivotable relative to the first andsecond connection parts.

The present invention will become more obvious from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the elliptical exerciser of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows the slidable link unit connected between the wheel and thelower end of the swing bar;

FIG. 3 shows that the second link is not yet pivoted relative to thefirst link;

FIG. 4 shows that the second link is pivoted relative to the first link;

FIG. 5-1 shows the long axis of the oval trace of the ellipticalexerciser of the present invention, and

FIG. 5-2 shows the long axis of the oval trace of the conventionalelliptical exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the elliptical exerciser 1 of the presentinvention comprises an H-shaped base 10 which includes a post on a firstend thereof and a wheel 20 is connected to a second end of the base 10.Two curved swing arms 31 are pivotably connected to a mediate portion 13of the post by two pivot portions 311 on the two curved swing arms 31 sothat the user can pivot the two swing arms 31 alternatively. A controlpanel 11 is connected to a top of the post and two handles 12 connectedto the post 12.

Two slidable link units 30 are pivotably connected to two respectivelower ends of the two swing arms 31, and each slidable link unit 30 hasa first link 32A and a second link 32B which is parallel to the firstlink 32A. Two pedals 34 are connected on the two second links 32B. Afirst connection part 320 and a second connection part 321 respectivelyextend from a first end and a second end of the first link 32A at anangle, and each of the first connection part 320 and the secondconnection part 321 is composed of two triangular plates. The first endof the first link 32A includes a connection tube 322 and a pin 41extends through the connection tube 322 and pivotably connected to thewheel 20 at a position away from the center of the wheel 20. Asubstantially H-shaped first connection member is pivotably connectedbetween the first connection part 320 and a first end of the second link32B. The first connection member includes a top transverse tube 332, abottom transverse tube 331 and a connection bar 33 connectedperpendicularly between the top transverse tube 332 and the bottomtransverse tube 331. The top transverse tube 332 is pivotably connectedto the first connection part 320 and the bottom transverse tube 331 ispivotably connected to the first end of the second link 32B,

A substantially H-shaped second connection member is pivotably connectedbetween the second connection part 321 and a second end of the secondlink 32B. The second connection member includes a top transverse tube314, a bottom transverse tube 313 and a connection bar 312 connectedperpendicularly between the top transverse tube 314 and the bottomtransverse tube 313. The top transverse tube 314 is pivotably connectedto the second connection part 321 by a pin 43 and the bottom transversetube 313 is pivotably connected to the second end of the second link 32Bby another pin 42. The two lower ends of the swing arms 31 are connectedto the two respective top transverse tube 314 of the second connectionmembers. By the arrangement, each of the second links 32B is pivotablerelative to the first and second connection parts 320, 321.

Two parallel plates 323 extend axially from the first and second ends ofthe second link 32B, and the two respectively lower bottom tubes 331,313 are connected between the two parallel plates 323.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the first link 32A moves to its far mostposition, the second link 32B can be further pivoted relative to thefirst link 32A so as to increase the length of the long axis of the ovaltrace that the pedal 34 travels.

FIGS. 5-1 and 5-2 respectively show the difference of the long axes ofthe oval traces of the pedal travel for the elliptical exerciser of thepresent invention and the conventional elliptical exerciser. It isobvious that the long axis for the oval trace of the ellipticalexerciser of the present invention is longer than that of theconventional elliptical exerciser.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art thatfurther embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

1. An elliptical exerciser comprising: a base having a post on a firstend thereof and a wheel connected to a second end of the base, two swingarms pivotably connected to a mediate portion of the post and twoslidable link units pivotably connected to two respective lower ends ofthe two swing arms, each slidable link unit having a first link and asecond link, a first connection part and a second connection partrespectively extending from a first end and a second end of the firstlink at an angle, the first end of the first link pivotably connected tothe wheel, a first connection member pivotably connected between thefirst connection part and a first end of the second link, a secondconnection member pivotably connected between the second connection partand a second end of the second link, the two lower ends of the swingarms connected to the two respective second connection member, each ofthe second links being parallel to the first link corresponding theretoand pivotable relative to the first and second connection parts, and twopedals connected on the two second links.
 2. The exerciser as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each of the first connection member is substantially anH-shaped member which includes a top transverse tube, a bottomtransverse tube and a connection bar connected perpendicularly betweenthe top transverse tube and the bottom transverse tube, the toptransverse tube is pivotably connected to the first connection part andthe bottom transverse tube is pivotably connected to the first end ofthe second link, each of the second connection member is substantiallyan H-shaped member which includes a top transverse tube, a bottomtransverse tube and a connection bar connected perpendicularly betweenthe top transverse tube and the bottom transverse tube, the toptransverse tube is pivotably connected to the second connection part andthe bottom transverse tube is pivotably connected to the second end ofthe second link.
 3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein twoparallel plates extend axially from the first and second ends of thesecond link, the two respectively bottom tubes are connected between thetwo parallel plates.
 4. (canceled)